Russian nuclear scientists arrested after trying to use a supercomputer for crypto mining

As the cryptocurrency mining craze continues, people are trying to come up with new and quicker ways to get their hands on coins in hopes of getting rich. Some Russian scientists thought it would be appropriate to use a government-owned supercomputer to mine for them, and as you would expect, the news wasn’t received well.

Several scientists based in Sarov, Russia, were caught using a supercomputer to mine cryptocurrency and were subsequently arrested. Sarov is a top-secret and heavily guarded facility where many of Russia’s nuclear operations take place. With that in mind, using the resources there to mine crypto for personal gain is very much against the law.

As reported by the BBC, the Federal Nuclear Centre in Sarov confirmed that this took place: “There has been an unsanctioned attempt to use computer facilities for private purposes including so-called mining.”

The supercomputer in question was not supposed to be connected to the internet in order to avoid potential outside intrusions. Once the scientists attempted to connect it to the web, they were almost immediately caught and handed over to the Federal Security Service. A criminal case is now being levied against them.

KitGuru Says: It should go without saying that if you work at a government agency, you shouldn’t attempt to use the computers there for personal gain. This isn’t the first attempt to illegally use corporate resources for mining, but given that it took place in a highly secure environment, it is perhaps the most notorious attempt so far.